RB Rookies

Foreman, D'Onta - HOU

The Texans wanted a running back to help Lamar Miller shoulder the rushing workload in 2017. They might have found someone who can do that -- and then some. D'Onta Foreman from Texas is a powerful, physical runner with surprising speed. Given a chance to lead the Longhorns backfield last year, Foreman rumbled for over 2,000 rush yards and 15 touchdowns on a whopping 323 carries. He's a massive ball-carrier at 6-feet and 233 pounds, and is more of a bull and less of a gazelle as a result. The hunch is that Foreman will begin the year as a complement to Miller, getting around five or six carries per game. But if Miller struggles, Foreman could begin taking more work away and potentially carve out a short-yardage/goal-line role. He'll get selected in every Fantasy draft this summer as a RB5, especially as a handcuff to Miller. Foreman might wind up going a round or two sooner than that in dynasty/keeper start-ups while he's a back-end Round 1 pick in rookie-only drafts. If you're patient, you should stash Foreman and hang on to him for several weeks.

Logan, TJ - ARI

The 179th overall pick in the 2017 draft, Logan will join a Cardinals offense that employs one of the top rushers in the NFL, David Johnson. With only Kerwynn Williams behind the starter on the depth chart, Logan has an excellent chance to compete for the No. 2 running back duties for 2017. In that scenario, Logan would be worth a late-round flier in fantasy drafts as Johnson's handcuff.

McGuire, Elijah - NYJ

The 188th overall pick in the draft, McGuire was considered a day three steal by many experts and he landed with the Jets, a team that is in rebuilding mode. With Matt Forte and Bilal Powell slated ahead of him on the depth chart, the impending rookie rusher could open 2017 at the No. 3 spot. Keep an eye on McGuire though as Forte is on the trading block. If he carves out a solid role in the offense, he may be worth waiver-wire consideration in leagues. He's at least worth rostering in Dynasty formats for the future, however, with Forte's career winding down.

Fournette, Leonard - JAC

The Jaguars haven't had a 1,000-yard rusher in five years. Their running backs have averaged 5.6 rushing touchdowns per season in that span. That's all about to change. Leonard Fournette was drafted by the Jaguars out of LSU with the fourth overall pick in the 2017 NFL Draft, and his punishing running style should be a perfect fit for the Jaguars and their improved offensive line. Fournette averaged 6.2 yards per carry and scored 40 times in 32 collegiate games, adding 12.8 yards per catch over 41 receptions in three seasons. With a heavy workload likely headed his way, Fournette will be one of Fantasy's most sought-after rushers in 2017. A borderline No. 1 running back right out of the gate, you should see Fournette taken anywhere between 15th and 25th overall in standard leagues and 20th through 28th in PPR leagues. He could inch up a bit in dynasty/keeper start-ups and is the consensus No. 1 overall pick in rookie-only drafts.

Pumphrey, Donnel - PHI

2017 fifth-round draft pick out of San Diego State, Donnel Pumphrey has impressed the Eagles coaching staff early on at mini-camp this spring. With Darren Sproles set to retire after this season, Pumphrey was brought on to be the future replacement for the veteran weapon. Pumphrey will be utilized more in the passing game, rather then the run game. There were reports of him taking reps at slot receiver during practice, making it clear that he will be used as a RB/WR hybrid come pre-season. Pumphrey doesn’t have much fantasy value as of right now. The Eagles backfield is crowded with LeGarrette Blount, Wendell Smallwood, and Sproles. Pumphrey’s spot on the depth chart is unclear at the moment, but if the Eagles plans to utilize him in the passing game works out, he could be a solid fantasy weapon to have stashed for dynasty leagues.

Williams, Joseph - SF

Williams, who was the 121st overall pick in the recent NFL Draft, is believed to be the first 2017 rookie to sign a deal. With Carlos Hyde the clear-cut starter, Williams will have to compete for a role with Tim Hightower, the presumed backup and a few other RBs. However, Hyde has durability issues as does Hightower, which could open the door for the rookie to garner extended playing time this season. From a fantasy perspective, Williams is an intriguing Dynasty option due to his welcoming situation in San Francisco's backfield. For redraft leagues, Willaims should be targeted as a waiver wire prosepct and stashed on the back end of a fantasy roster in the event he does, in fact, garner a significant amount of snaps in 2017.

Conner, James - PIT

James Conner gets to live the dream and play for his hometown Steelers after growing up in nearby Erie, Pa., and playing college ball at Pitt. He overcame a battle with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in 2015 to return last season and score 20 total touchdowns for the Panthers, racking up over 1,000 rush yards and 300 receiving yards along the way. He's definitely more of a burly type of running back, not a shifty speedster like Le'Veon Bell, but he's capable of running or receiving on any down. While Bell will rule the Steelers' backfield, don't be surprised to see Conner as one of his backups -- along with Toussaint, where might get a handful of carries from game to game. He might even steal a touchdown or two in home games. If you're the one who drafted Bell in Round 1, he's worth keeping an eye one. He's also worth taking late in dynasty/keeper leagues and in Round 2 or 3 in rookie-only drafts.

Kamara, Alvin - NO

The last time the Saints invested in the draft in a pass-friendly running back, they took Reggie Bush with the No. 2 overall pick. Alvin Kamara was taken much, much later, but could be nearly as explosive as Bush was. The ex-Tennessee Volunteer was plenty productive in his only two years of college ball, averaging 82.4 total yards per game and scoring at least 10 total times per season. He's got very nice speed and quickness to go with natural hands, but he's not a physical runner who can handle the rigors of 15 or 20 touches per game. Sharing a backfield with Mark Ingram and Adrian Peterson this fall might be more of an education than anything he did in college, but it shouldn't result in a lot of yardage. Take him with a late pick in seasonal PPR leagues if you'd like, but his upside lies in his future. That's why you'll see him go in Round 2 of rookie-only drafts and with a late-round choice in dynasty/keeper league start-ups.

Gallman, Wayne - NYG

The Giants selected running back Wayne Gallman from Clemson in the fourth round of this year's NFL Draft, and he could compete for a prominent role at some point this season. Paul Perkins and Shane Vereen should be ahead of Gallman on the depth chart, but Perkins doesn't have much experience in his second year, while Vereen has proven to be injury prone. It wouldn't be a shock to see Gallman start at some point during the season. In 2016, Gallman had 232 carries for 1,133 yards (4.9-yards per carry) and 17 touchdowns, along with 20 catches for 152 yards, and he finished his three-year college career with 675 carries for 3,416 yards (5.1-yards per carry) and 34 touchdowns, and 66 catches for 486 yards and two touchdowns. He's more of a grinder than an elite running back, but his landing spot with the Giants is worth keeping an eye on. He's a mid-round selection in rookie-only drafts.

Hunt, Kareem - KC

Hunt posted a solid two weeks of OTAs with the Chiefs and was already pushing for reps with Spencer Ware when Ware went down with a PCL tear in his knee. Hunt proved himself a proficient receiver out of the backfield in his senior season at Toledo, nabbing 41 passes for 403 yards and a touchdown. He's displayed some early flash at OTAs and in camp, leaving Reid eager to see him when the the games count for real. Spencer Ware entered camp as the lead back, but with him likely lost for the season, the team appears open to the idea of Hunt playing a bell cow role in their offense which means that Hunt is a top 15 fantasy RB.

Cohen, Tarik - CHI

Tarik Cohen has drawn comparisons to Darren Sproles thanks to his diminutive size and exceptional speed, but he's unlikely to produce stats like Sproles in 2017. Over four years at North Carolina A&T, Cohen averaged 6.5 yards per run and 9.6 yards per catch, totaling 59 touchdowns and over 6,000 total yards in 46 games. But he didn't do much work on special teams, which is something he'll have to learn in Chicago. His size is also a drawback as most running backs at 5-foot-6 and 179 pounds can't take on a lot of touches from week to week. Cohen should end up being a fun player, but not one Fantasy owners can consistently rely on. He's worth speculating on with a very late pick in rookie-only drafts, especially if they're PPR.

Williams, Jamaal - GB

Jamaal Williams figures to be the Packers' most physical rusher this year, and it might mean being their best rusher this year. At BYU, Williams rumbled for 726 carries over four years, averaging 5.4 yards per run with 35 touchdowns in 43 games. He's a great fit for Green Bay's rushing attack and is pretty much their only big-bodied player at the position. Though he'll almost never play in obvious passing situations and could be off the field during the team's two-minute drill (those roles should go to Ty Montgomery), and though he's technically not considered the starter at the beginning of training camp, Williams is worth splurging on with a pick in later in the draft of seasonal leagues. You might see him get taken a round sooner in dynasty/keeper start-up formats and will certainly be a first-round choice in rookie-only drafts.

McCaffrey, Christian - CAR

Christian McCaffrey should be more than just a running back for the Panthers -- he'll also end up playing some receiver, some kick returner and some punt returner too. The uber-versatile McCaffrey was the team's first-round pick, giving them a dimension to their offense they haven't had with Cam Newton. The fleet-footed 5-foot-11, 202-pound player out of Stanford had over 1,900 total yards of offense in consecutive seasons, scoring a minimum of 13 times on offense each year. He also set the NCAA single-season record for all-purpose yards in '15 with 3,864, breaking Barry Sanders' mark. The Panthers love McCaffrey's versatility, and while he might not be a pure between-the-tackles runner like Jonathan Stewart, he's sure to be involved in the offense on a regular basis and could even contend for over 50 catches as a rookie. Having Stewart around will take some carries (and short-yardage scores) off McCaffrey's plate, but there's still a lot of hope for a 1,000-total-yard season. Bank on McCaffrey as a No. 2 running back right out of the gate, making him worth a Round 3 or 4 pick in standard leagues and Round 3 in PPR. He'll be selected between second and fifth overall in rookie-only drafts.

Mack, Marlon - IND

The Colts hope Marlon Mack can provide a spark for their run game working with Frank Gore this year, and potentially start for them down the line. Mack, the Colts' fourth-round pick, averaged 6.2 yards per carry for South Florida over three seasons, saving his best for last with a 15-score, 1,414-total-yard campaign in 2016. He has experience lining up all over the field, and has shown good skills as a receiver. He's also an absolute burner when put in space. He's not a powerful runner, so there might be some trepidation about his future as an every-down back, but it doesn't mean he won't evolve into a 15-touch-per-game playmaker for Indianapolis. Gore's fantasy owners are looking at Turbin as the 2nd RB, but Mack should push them both for touches. He is worthy of a mid-round pick in rookie-only drafts, but his upside could be far greater.

Mixon, Joe - CIN

Joe Mixon should eventually be the best running back in Cincinnati -- but it might not happen as soon as you think. Mixon was a sensational rusher for Oklahoma, averaging 6.8 yards per rush and 13.8 yards per catch over two seasons. He always split reps for the Sooners but has the incredible combination of power and speed that make for great running backs. The Bengals have never been shy about drafting players with off-field problems, and the sense is that Mixon is willing to work hard to put himself in a positive light. His opportunities this season will hinge on how good he looks in the preseason, how healthy and effective Jeremy Hill and Giovani Bernard are, and how willing the Bengals coaches are to put him into a big role. Offseason reports hinted at Mixon leading the Bengals in touches but not starting right away. The reality is that once one of the running backs ahead of him on the depth chart gets hurt or plays poorly, Mixon will step in. One thing's for sure: With Hill in a contract year and Bernard coming off a torn ACL, Mixon's opportunities are pretty much guaranteed in the future. Impatient Fantasy owners might regret taking Mixon in seasonal leagues, but you should expect him to get taken by the end of Round 4 in every league. Looking long term, Mixon will also be a popular Round 4 pick in dynasty/keeper formats and is a sure-fire top 5 pick in rookie-only drafts.

Perine, Samaje - WAS

The Redskins selected running back Samaje Perine from Oklahoma in the fourth round of this year's NFL Draft, and he could compete for the starting job right away with Rob Kelley. While Kelley played well last season as the starter for Washington and is deservedly the No. 1 on the depth chart to open the year, it wouldn't be a surprise to see Perine win the job at some point this year. At Oklahoma, Perine was overshadowed by teammate Joe Mixon, but Perine was no slouch in his own right. He had 196 carries for 1,060 yards (5.4 yards per carry) and 10 touchdowns, with 10 catches for 106 yards and a touchdown in 2016, and he finished his three-year college career with 685 carries for 4,122 yards (6.0 yards per carry) and 49 touchdowns, along with 40 catches for 321 yards and two touchdowns. It's a good idea to draft Kelley and Perine together, and Perine should come off the board in most leagues late in the draft. He's a deep sleeper in all formats, and he could be great if he ends up at the top spot on the depth chart in Washington this year.

Jones, Aaron - GB

The Packers drafted a number of running backs in hoping to address last year's obvious lack of depth, and that's where Aaron Jones fits in. A lead playmaker at UTEP, Jones rebounded from a significant ankle injury in 2015 to total over 2,000 yards and 20 touchdowns from scrimmage. He's a little small to handle an every-down job in the NFL, but could fit in immediately as a special-teams contributor and as the understudy to Ty Montgomery. Save for a smashing preseason, Jones is probably not someone worth drafting in seasonal Fantasy leagues. Feel free to take him with a late pick in dynasty/keeper drafts and with a late Round 2/early Round 3 choice in rookie-only formats.

Mays, Devante - GB

Devante Mays will provide a powerful alternative for the Packers run game this season, though he'll have to stay healthy in order to come through. Injuries plagued Mays at Utah State, limiting him to just five games last year, but he averaged 7.0 yards per run in those five games, with three touchdowns. Strictly a two-down player, Mays could end up being the backup for fellow rookie Jamaal Williams in the early rushing downs and goal-line role. That's not going to result in a lot of stats so long as Williams is healthy and effective, so don't spend a draft pick on him in seasonal leagues. You can take him with a late pick in deeper dynasty/keeper formats and with a late choice in rookie-only drafts.

Cook, Dalvin - MIN

Dalvin Cook isn't Adrian Peterson, but he appears to be the guy expected to replace him in the long run. The Vikings moved up in the draft to select Cook, a total yardage machine from Florida State. In each of three seasons for the Seminoles, the electric Cook had over 1,200 total yards (including 2,100 in his junior year), with anywhere from 8 to 20 total touchdowns. He finished school with a 6.5-yard rushing average and an 11.8-yard receiving average. Cook's got some off-field issues to address, but if he can focus solely on football, he should elevate into the Vikings' lead rusher pretty quickly. His competition for snaps isn't that strong (sorry, Latavius Murray fans), and the Minnesota offensive line was improved this offseason. Cook has shown off his skills this summer and the Vikings put him on the fast track to the starting lineup. We recommend Cook as a Round 4 pick in all seasonal leagues. You could see him creep into Round 3 in dynasty/keeper formats. In rookie-only drafts, he'll be picked anywhere between second and fifth overall.